Not everything here is on the money. In the performance I saw, the closing scene at the tomb was far too drawn out, breaking the audience's thread of attention that had so carefully been created. The overly elaborate fight choreography is too labored and trudgingly paced to seem spontaneous. But after all, trying too hard and failing is more admirable than screeching safely to a halt before you reach your limits.

Since Romeo and Juliet is probably most people's favorite Shakespeare tragedy, much of what we hear is familiar. Some expressions will trigger a spark of recognition, such as "parting is such sweet sorrow" and "fortune's fool!" (Fortunately, the overwrought line "love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs" doesn't get heard much.) Thank you, Brown/Trinity troupe, for making an old song sound fresh and young.

REASONS TO BELIEVE (OR NOT) | September 24, 2014 To non-believers, the evangelical movement can look like a loud, friendly party whose invitation we’ve politely declined, but whose windows sooner or later we can’t help peeking into.

MYTHS AND DREAMS | September 24, 2014 This play stringings together bedtime stories and fevered hallucinations.

GENDER BENDERS | September 17, 2014 Gender confusion has probably been around for as long as gender conflicts.

SIMONE'S | September 17, 2014 In the Rhode Island tradition of giving directions like “it’s where the coffee milk factory used to be,” Simone’s is located where Not Your Average Bar & Grille and the ice cream shop Supreme Dairy used to be.